Tenant-Based Voucher
A Tenant-Based Voucher is a component of the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. A voucher is provided to an eligible family or individual, which allows them to locate housing of their choice, including single-family homes, townhouses, apartments, and mobile homes.
The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and where the landlord is willing to accept the voucher payment. Initially, the housing must be located in Champaign County, but after one year, participants may move anywhere in the country where there is a voucher program.
Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety and must pass an inspection. The housing unit must be the appropriate size for the size of the household, and the total rent charged by the owner must be within the applicable payment standard for the area in which the unit is located.
The family will pay a portion of the rent based on HACC’s MTW flat rent schedule. The difference between the tenant rent and the total rent is paid by HACC directly the landlord each month.
Under HACC’s Moving to Work provisions, non-disabled individuals must work 25 hours or more per week to receive a voucher, and the voucher has a lifetime term limit of 8 years. Elderly and disabled households are exempt from these requirements.
There are a limited number of vouchers available based on the funding provided each year by Congress. Applications for tenant-based vouchers are only received when a public notice is issued indicating that the waiting list will be opened. Generally, applications open every two years. You can check the availability of the waiting list by clicking “Apply for Housing.”
HACC assists approximately 1,100 households with tenant-based vouchers each year.